GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as the combating terrorism, digital television transition, and information security. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Contracting: Post-Government Employment of Former DOD Officials Needs Greater Transparency. GAO-08-485, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-485
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08485high.pdf
• Digital Television Transition: Majority of Broadcasters Are Prepared for the DTV Transition, but Some Technical and Coordination Issues Remain. GAO-08-510, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-510
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08510high.pdf
• Global Nuclear Energy Partnership: DOE Should Reassess Its Approach to Designing and Building Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facilities. GAO-08-483, April 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-483
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08483high.pdf
• Information Security: TVA Needs to Address Weaknesses in Control Systems and Networks. GAO-08-526, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-526
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08526high.pdf
• Motor Carrier Safety: Improvements to Drug Testing Programs Could Better Identify Illegal Drug Users and Keep Them off the Road. GAO-08-600, May 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-600
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08600high.pdf
• Organ Transplant Programs: Federal Agencies Have Acted to Improve Oversight, but Implementation Issues Remain. GAO-08-412, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-412
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08412high.pdf

Related Product

• Digital Television Transition: GAO DTV Broadcaster Survey, (GAO-08-528SP, April 2008), an E-Supplement to GAO-08-510. GAO-08-528SP, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-528SP

Correspondence

• Governmentwide Accounts Payable. GAO-08-711R, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-711R

Testimonies

• Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status of Project's Schedule and Cost as of May 22, 2008, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-08-811T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-811T
• Chemical Assessments: EPA's New Assessment Process Will Further Limit the Productivity and Credibility of Its Integrated Risk Information System, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-08-810T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-810T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08810thigh.pdf
• Combating Terrorism: U.S. Efforts to Address the Terrorist Threat in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas Require a Comprehensive Plan and Continued Oversight, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. GAO-08-820T, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-820T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08820thigh.pdf
• High-Containment Biosafety Laboratories: DHS Lacks Evidence to Conclude That Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Can Be Done Safely on the U.S. Mainland, by Nancy R. Kingsbury, managing director, applied research and methods, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-821T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-821T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08821thigh.pdf
• Human Capital: Workforce Diversity Governmentwide and at the Department of Homeland Security, by George H. Stalcup, director, strategic issues, before the House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-815T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-815T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08815thigh.pdf
• Information Security: TVA Needs to Enhance Security of Critical Infrastructure Control Systems and Networks, by Gregory C. Wilshusen, director, information security issues, and Nabajyoti Barkakati, acting chief technologist, before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-775T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-775T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08775thigh.pdf
• Legal Services Corporation: Improvements Needed in Governance, Accountability, and Grants Management and Oversight, by Jeanette M. Franzel, director, financial management and assurance, before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-833T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-833T
• Low-Level Radioactive Waste: Status of Disposal Availability in the United States and Other Countries, by Gene Aloise, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-813T, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-813T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08813thigh.pdf
• Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy: SSA Continues to Approve Applicants, but Millions of Individuals Have Not Yet Applied, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. GAO-08-812T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-812T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08812thigh.pdf
• Personnel Clearances: Key Factors for Reforming the Security Clearance Process, by Brenda S. Farrell, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-776T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-776T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08776thigh.pdf
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Act Decision Making, by Robin M. Nazzaro, director, natural resources and environment, before the House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-688T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-688T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08688thigh.pdf

Presentation by the Acting Comptroller General

• "Auditing and Advising in a Time of Transition," by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the 17th Biennial Forum of Government Auditors, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GAO-08-842CG, May 21, 2008
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08842cg.pdf